The wind whips up big waves. Big waves are a danger to boats. As long as the water is fairly smooth, you can go anywhere you want. Like everybody has said, watch the weather and run for cover before it gets bad.

The wind is what makes it dangerous being in a small boat, and a small motor doesn't have enough power to push a boat with two people with enough unmmmph to get the bow up over the waves, and you can end up having a big wave come over the bow which is the main danger, plus the wind will catch that boat and whip it around and if you don't have power to counter that it's pretty much going to do you in also.

Like I said if it's blowing 15 you need to stay close to shore and out of the wind and especially out of the direct waves, and if its higher than 15 mph then don't even think about launching as that small a motor will not be able to go into or across that kind of wind and you will be an accident waiting to happen.

A small motor especially a new one can go a long way on a tank of gas, so just carry a funnel and a gallon extra, and if you get across the lake and check the gas and it's low then refill it and head for the launch.

You should be able to go to the crappie wall or the high lines to the right of the launch with no problem on a tank of gas.

When you launch go toward the right from the launch and that will take you near the high lines and you will know you are there because you can't miss them as they go across the lake there and you'll see a big reed bed on the right and a small cove just before the reeds.

Fish that right bank directly across from the power plant anywhere from the launch to the high lines, and you should do really well on just about every species.

Locate some fish and remember the spots, and you'll find plenty fish without running all over the lake.

So what I'm saying is you don't have to launch and go to the opposite side of lake, like most people do as there are plenty of fish close where you won't even burn that full tank in your motor on two trips, unless you just want to boat ride, and with a tiny motor like yours, you need to forget the boat ride and concentrate on finding fish.

You also can catch plenty fish along the dam from the park side to the gate house and that won't use much gas, and you'll be out of the southeast prevailing wind.

Lot's of options, and lots of good fishing where you don't need to worry about running out of gas!